Multiple glazing unit with light modifying screen



March 20, 1951 G. B. WATKINS 2,545,907

MULTIPLI: GLAZING UNIT WITH LIGHT MODIFYING SCREEN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 16, 1949 March 20, 1951 G B, WATKlNS 2,545,907

MULTIPLE GLAZING UNIT WITH LIGHT MODIFYING SCREEN Filed July 16, 1949 2Sheets-Sheet 2 11minmglmummummm@ iieilumllwmmmmmmmm IHIHMI,MIMMIMIHMI;mul@ n mlulmlL atentec Mar. 20, 195i MULTIPLEA GLAZING UNIT WITH LIGHTMODIFYING SCREEN George B. Watkins, Toledo, Ohio, assigner" toLibbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of OhioApplication July 16, 1949, Serial No. 105,218

6 Claims.

The present invention relates broadly to multiple glass sheet glazingunits and more particularly to an improved unit of this type providedwith means for controlling the entry of light and to the method offabricating said unit.

Properly made, double glazing units make it feasible to install largeglass areas in homes and buildings without incurring substantialadditional heat loss. One type of house, for example, is designed on aprinciple whereby the structure is so oriented with respect to the sunthat solar radiation is effectively used to heat or assist in heatingthe dwelling. These are commonly termed solar houses. To preventexcessive sunlight during certain periods of the year or times of theday, it is customary to provide means for regulating the amount ofsunlight permitted to enter the building. This is ordinarily done byroof overhangs, awnings, canopies, and such devices, or by placement ofshrubbery or trees.

There are many types of glass installations such as in transoms, rearwindows of automobiles, large windows and wall areas in general, wherean abundance of natural daylight or a wide range of vision is desiredbut which, if provided, introduces the problem of excessive light orglare Aat certain periods of the day and year.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a multiple glasssheet glazing unit provided with a built-in light controlling orscreening device or member which is permanently mounted between theglass sheets. Preferably, the completed unit is composed entirely ofglass and metal so that it will have a long life of usefulness and notbe subject to deterioration such as may be yexpected when organicmaterials are used and exposed to normal temperature, humidity, andother conditions.

Generally stated, theV glazing unit herein provided is made up of two ormore sheets of glass arranged in spaced face to face relation with oneanother and maintained in this position by metal spacer or separatormeans secured to adjacent faces of the glass sheets around theirmarginal portions to create a permanently sealed spaceY therebetweencontaining properly conditioned air. In accordance with the invention, ascreening member, preferably of metal, is mounted within the spacebetween the glass sheets and is carried by the metal separator means.The screening member is maintained under tension to prevent sagging orbuckling thereof and is so designed and constructed that substantiallight is permitted to pass through the glazing unit in a controlledmanner while objectionable direct light. is

prevented from passing therethrough. At the same time, good visionthrough the unit is permitted so that the advantages of a transparentopening are retained but unwanted excessive light is prevented orovercome. In other words, the

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparentduring the course of` the following description, when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings.

i In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a multiple glazing unit constructed inaccordance with the invention and including one form of self-containedscreening member;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through one edge of the unit takensubstantially on` line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspectiv view of a portion of thescreening member;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in whichthescreening member is secured to one of the glass sheets;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through one form of apparatuswhich may be used in the method herein provided for securing thescreening member to the glass sheet;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the means for holding thescreening member under tension during the securing thereof; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a slightly modified form of glazing unit.

The multiple glazing unit illustrated in Fig. 1 is rectangular in shapeand indicates a type of unit which may be used for a variety ofpurposes,

including the glazing of a window of a building, but it should beremembered that the units can be made to anyV desired size and/or shape,Such unit is composed of two sheets of glass 9 and Ill arranged in"spaced face to face relation to each other and maintained in thisposition by a metal separator means I I to provide a hermetically sealedair space I2 therebetween. The separator means I I may consist of a leadtype or equivalent I3 and. is permanently secured to the opposed facesof the glass sheets inwardly of their edges through the intermediary ofthe metallic coatings I4, deposited on and tightly adherent to themarginal portions of the glass sheets, and a tight solder joint I5between the metallic coatings I4 and the spacer strip I3. The glasssheets 9 and ID may be of ordinary plate or window glass of the desiredthickness or can be a glass having special characteristics such asheat-strengthened glass, tinted glass, ultra-violet transmitting orabsorbing glass, etc. When producing such a unit, it must be made toiinal size and shape as it cannot be altered after fabrication withoutrisk of damage.

In practice, the glass sheets are cut to size, necessary edge work done,and those surfaces which will be inwardly of the assembly are cleaned.The metallic coatings I4 are then applied to one surface of each of theglass sheets as illustrated in Fig. 2, completely around the marginalportions thereof. One practical coating and method of applying it is touse a copper alloy wire having a composition substantiallytitanium 1.75to 2.25 percent, chromium .25 to .75 percent, and the balancecopper-which may be sprayedV upon the glass by means of a metallizinggun. After the metallic coatings have been applied, the inner surfacesof the glass sheets are givenI a final cleaning and inspection. rIhemetal spacery is then secured to the metallic coatings by the solderedjoint I5. The resulting separator comprises the combination of themetallic coatingsild` on the glass sheets, metal spacer i3 and solderI5', forming Yan all metal structural member' which is approximatelyH-shape in cross section.

After the glass sheets have been associated with the separator means,the spacer I3 is punctured with a needle in at least two places so thatclean dryair may be passed through the space I2 between thesheetstofremove moisture and to make it possible toV leave clean dry airsealed within the unit. For ordinary purposes, the pressure of the air'sealed within the unit is at normal atmospheric pressure, but the airor inert gases may be sealed in at, above or below normal atmosphericpressure. `The needle openings are soldered'closed promptly Aafter theneedles have been withdrawn.A Thistyp'e of all-glass-metal glazing unitwill withstand'the, normal conditions of use and, the metal separatorfirmly adhered toA the glass sheets prevents leakage or diffusion ofmoistureintozthe "space therebetween.

In carrying rout the present invention and during fabrication of theunit, a light screening member or device, indicated in its entirety bythe numeral I6, is permanently mounted between the. glass sheets. Thisscreening member may be 'of a conventional type `which has been producedor'use in openings of buildings and similar places which effectivelyprevents glaring sun rays and glaring overhead light rays from enteringthrough these openings or' it may be of any preferred construction. Thescreening member I6 herein shown may be likened to a Venetian blindexcept that the horizontal strips or louvers are of a Xed `angle to thevertical plane of the window, whereas the usual Venetian blind has thesestrips or louvers adjustable.

Withv reference particularly to Figure 3, the screen I6 consistsessentially of a plurality of dennitely spaced ller wires I'I ofelongated or ribbon-like cross section positioned with theirlongitudinal sides parallel to each other and dis'- posed at an angle'to the planeofV the screen.

These ller wires constitute horizontal slats or' louvers, each of whichis tilted to an angle with respect to the vertical plane of the windowand to the horizontal plane normal to the vertical plane through thewindow. The slats or louvers Il are effectively locked in this positionby a plurality of pairs oi supporting wires I3 and I9, the two wires ofeach pair passing alternately over and under successive slats I'I. Thewires I8 and I9 of each pair are also twisted together to formintegrating twists 2@ between successive slats.

The angle at which the slats I1 are arranged can of course be varied tosuit particular conditions, but it has been found that a verysatisfactory unit is one in which the horizontal flat wires or slatshave a width of approximately se of an inch and are set at an angle ofseventeen degrees with the horizontal, with the measurement between theflat wires being equivalent to i8 mesh. The supporting wires I 8 and I9are relatively fine and of sufficient strength to properly maintain theslats in adjusted alignment. When this type of screening member is used,it is placed within the glazing unit so that the slats will behorizontal when the unit is in use. The angle of inclination of theslats may be varied by experiment to the most effective point, dependingupon what position the sun or other light source has with respect to thewindow or to the opening to be shaded and to the amount of clear ortransparent space desired.

In fabricating the glazing unit, the screen I 6 is secured to one. ofthe glass sheets before the sheets are assembled with the separator I I.More specically, the supporting wires` I3 and I9 are soldered at theiropposite ends to the metallic coatings I4 on one of the glass sheets asindicated at 2|. Separated drops of solder can be used to secure thepairs of Iwires I8.' and It to the metallic coatings on the glass sheet,or a continuous layer of solder` can be run across the entire Widthofthe glass sheet as shown in Fig. 4. When mentioning soldering, it isassumed that the screening material is a metal which can be soldered. Ifother types of materials are used, appropriate cementing or bonding.means must likewise be selected.

It has been found that in double glazing units of this type, therer isVa tendency for the vmetal screen I6, to sag or buckle when the` unit isinstalled in a window opening. Such `a condition is highly objectionablesince` it impairs the usefulness of the, unit as well as detracting fromits appearance. Thus, such sagging will throw the slats I 'I out ofalignment with one another resulting in wider spaces between them atcertain points, and narrowerrspacesat other points. More important isthe fact that such sagging will, change theangle of the slats orlouvers. Further, sagging` of the screen cannot be corrected after. theunit has been. fabricated without completely disassembling it. To,avoid, this condition, there isI herein provided, a. noyel method whichconsists generally in stretching the supporting wires III and I9 toplace, the screen I6 under tension-v during the soldering thereof totheglass sheet. ByV placing they screen undertension, sagging or bucklingthereof willbeeliininated and, as a consequence, the, appearance andAurilityof the unit greatly. enhanced.v

' With? reference particularly to Figs.' 5A, Gand '7,A the glasssheet9,. towhich thescreen I.6 isto bev attached. is, laid horieqntallv uponthat@ 22; Offl a table 2'3, with the metallic coating I4 facingupwardly. One end of the glass sheet is placed against a suitable stop36 The screen I6 is then placed on the glass sheet and the supportingwires I8 and I9 soldered, at the ends thereof opposite stop 36, to themetallicv coating I4 on the glass sheet, as indicated at 2| in Fig. 5.After this has been done, the opposite end of the screen is engaged by asuitable stretching device 24 which may consist of a so-called comb inthe form of a iat strip 25 of suitable material provided in one edgewith a series of notches 26 spaced to correspond to and which hook overthe pairs of holding wires I8 and I 9 between two adjacent slats I'I asshown in Fig. '7. Carried by the strip 25 are a plurality ofsubstantially horizontal parallel arms 21 secured at their outer ends toa common transverse rod 28. Connected to the opposite ends of the rod isa bail 219 to which is fastened a cable 36 running over a pulley 3|mounted upon the table and carrying at its outer end adjustable weights32.

Since the screen has been previously secured at its opposite end to theglass sheet, the weight 32 will effect a predetermined stretching of thepairs of wires I8 and I 9 to place the screen under a desired tension.While the screen is thus held under tension, the free ends of the wiresI8 and I9 are soldered to the metallic coating I4 on the glass sheet, asindicated at 2 I a in Fig. 5, by means of a hand soldering iron 33,after which the comb 24 is removed and any excess of screen trimmed 01T.In this way the screen is not only placed under tension during thesecuring thereof to the glass sheet, but will remain under tension afterthe comb has been removed. The effect of this tension is to prevent orminimize the liability of sagging or buckling of the screen when theunit is placed in use so that the slats Il will be uniformly maintainedparallel with onev another and at their predetermined angle. In someinstances, it may be found desirable to also secure the wires I8 and I9to the glass sheet at spaced ypoints between their ends by drops ofsolder.

While the vertical tension applied to the screen may vary, dependingupon the size of unit, it must be sufcient to hold the screen securelyin a good taut plane. By way of example, the vertical wires I8 and I9may be stretched between .050 inch and .125 inch per foot of height.This, in turn, requires from three quarters to 'two pounds per pair ofwires I8 and I9, and since these wires occur every one-half inch fromone and one-half to four pounds per horizontal inch of screen. Thetension applied will be from nine to twenty-four pounds per foot widthof screen.

Although normally a Venetian blind is adjustable, its principle of lightcontrol is well understood, so for purposes of explanation theparticular screening member I6 herein illustrated may be referred to asa fixed opening Venetian blind. It permits substantial passage of lightand likewise enables an observer` to see through the opening but iseffective in reducing glare and eX- cessive direct light. For example,if the slats I'I are arranged at an angle of seventeen degrees to thehorizontal, sun rays will be prevented from passing through the windowif the sun has risen to an angle of approximately forty degrees to thehorizontal. Thus, the suns rays are eiTectively kept from enteringthrough the screened opening when the sun is passing through its arc anddirecting its hottest rays toward the earth;

The type of double glazing unit described herein and without thescreening member gives protecuon againsttwo kinds of heat transfer,namely, conduction and convection. Theaddition of a screening member ofthe character disclosed and built into the unit provides a safeguardagainst Y passage of excessive solar radiation through the window duringthat period of the year or time of day when it is not desired. In thesummer months when the sun is high, the slats act as a barrier to asubstantial part of the radiant energy by reecting it back to theoutside of the window. When the sun is lower as in winter months,substantially all of its radiation will pass between the slats and intothe interior of the building which is as desired. Thus, the size andarrangement of the slats can be controlled at time of manufacture togive a nice balance between winter and summer solar radiation conditionsfor any given location.

After the screening member I6 has been attached to the glass sheet 9,this sheet is assembled with the glass sheet I0 and separator means IIin the manner described above. As shown in Fig. 2, the metallic coatingsI 4 on the glass sheets are made relatively wide, particularly at thetop and bottom of the unit, so that the screen can be attached theretowithout placing any strain on the solder joint I5 between the metalliccoatings and metal spacer I3 which might tend to disrupt the slat. Thus,it will be seen that the layer of solder 2| securing the screen to theglass sheet is spaced from the solder joint I5. Another advantage informing the metallic coatings I4 of the same width on both sheets ofglass is that when the unit is mounted in place, the metallic coatings,being opaque, will serve to hide the solder connection 2| between themetal screen and metallic coatings when viewed from either'v side of theunit, thereby giving the unit a much neater appearance. A furtheradvantage of the unit herein provided is that it is hermetically sealedwhich serves to keep the screen free from dirt and dust aswell asguarding it against in'-` Jury.

In Fig. 8 is illustrated a slightly modied arrangement which may beemployed and in which the solder connection between/the screen and glasssheet is entirely separated from the solder joint between the glasssheet and separator. As shown, the glass sheet is provided with ametallic coating 34 similar to the coating I4 above described and towhich the metal separator II is secured. However, there is applied tothe glass sheet, inwardly of and spaced from the coating 34, a separatemetallic coating 35 to which the metal screen I6 is soldered as alsoabove 'described. By completely separating the metallic coatings 34 and35, no strain whatever can be applied to the seal between the glass andsep arator means.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as the preferred embodiment or" the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Iclaim:

1. A multiple glass sheet glazing unit, comprising two spaced parallelsheets of glass, a metal separator lying between the marginal portionsof the glass sheets and firmly adherent thereto, and a light screeningmember xed within the space between the glass sheets and made up of aplurality of at slats extending in one direction and a series of spacedwires extending in a different direction for holding said slats inplace, said screening member being under unidirectional tension in thedirection of said wires and' secured to one of said glass sheets'.

2. A multiple glassY sheet glazing unit, comprising two spaced parallelsheets of glass, a metal separator lying between the marginal portionsof the glass sheets and firmly adherentA thereto, and a metallic lightscreening member Xed within the space between the glassv sheetsY andmade up of a plurality of flat slats extending in one direction and aseries of spaced wires extending in a diiierent direction for holdingsaid slats in place, said screening member being under unidirectionaltension in the direction of said wires and permanently soldered at twoop posite ends to one of saidV glass sheets.

3. A multipla glass sheet glazing unit; cornY prising two: spacedparallel' sheets' ofv glass', a metal separator lying between themarginal por tions of the glass sheets and irmly adherent thereto, alight screening member ixed within' thespace between the glass sheetsand made upv ofV a plurality of horizontally arranged flat slats` and aseries of spaced vertical wires for holding said. slats in place,said-screening member being maintained under vertical' tension'l in theplane ofi the screen, andv means for permanently se'- curing the.screening` member to'one'of the glass sheets, said securing meansbeingspaced fronr the metal separator.

4. A multiple glassv sheet glazing: unit, coni-,- prisingtwospacedparallel sheets of glass, nietallic coatings arrangedl around themarginal portionsoi; the opposedsnrfaces ci said'glass sheets'- andfirmlyl adherent'A thereto., a metalseparator lying between theA glass'sheets and secured to.

in place, and means for securing the opposite' ends'of the verticalWires to the metallic coating on one of the glass sheets,A with the saidWires being maintained under tension toY prevent buckling of the screenwhenthe unit is' installed.

5. A- multipleKV glass sheet glazing` unit,Y comprising two spacedparallel sheets of glass, metal-vr lic coatings arranged around themarginal por' tions'of the opposed surfaces Vof said glass sheets- 'andrmly adherent thereto', a ine'tal sepaat'r lying between the glass'sheets' and secured to said metallic coatings, a metallic lightmodifying screen arranged in' the space between th glass' sheets andmade up' of' a` plurality' o'f` horizontally arranged fiat' metal' slatsand' a series o'f spaced vertical wires for holding said slatsv inplace, and a soldered connection for securing theoppo'sit'e ends of thevertical wires to the metallic coat#l ing on one of the glass sheets,with the said wires being maintained under tension' to` prevent bucklingof the screen when the unit is'insta'lle'd', said soldered connectionYbeing spacedv irolii the metal separator.

62 A multiple glass sheet glazing unit; com* prising two spacedparallely sheets of mass; metallic coatings arranged around the marginalpore tions of the opposed surfaces ofrsa'id glass sheets andvrml'yadherent-thereto', a metal separator lyingbet'ween the glas'ssheet's andsecured'tosaid metallic coatings, a= metallic light modif-ying" screen.arranged in the space between thevv glass sheets and made upl ofv a.plurality 'of horizontally; arranged flatm'etal slats andiaseriesl ofspaced vertical wires for holding saidslats in place, and? a1 solderedconnection for securing tlie opposite ends of theV Verticalzwires tothemetallicc'oa'tirgr lingi ofA tlier screen when" the unit-isinstalled;said soldered connectionv being spaced from? the? metal? separator andthe metallic coatings' on the'glassA sheets'I being of sufficientv widthtov cover' said soldered connection when theiinitisviewe'dfrom" 2 eitherside:

GEORGE- B; WATKLN's;

\ REFERENCES CITED Tlieollowing references are of record inj the fileofths' patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IENTS"

